Raksha Bandhan – An ‘Unbroken Bond between Brothers and Sisters

Raksha Bandhan falls on the full moon day of the Shra van month of the Hindu calendar. It is a Hindu festival. In Sanskrit it literally means, `the tie or knot of protection’. It celebrates the unconditional love and relation between brothers and sisters. In many parts of India, this festival is also called `Rakhi Purnima’ and Rakhi’. The festival is observed by Hindus, Jains and many Sikhs. Some people belonging to Parsee community also celebrate this festival. Raksha Bandhan is also celebrated by people of Indian origin around the world.

Rakhi is a sacred thread. The Rajput queens practised the custom of sending Rakhi threads to neighbouring rulers as token of brotherhood. On this day, sister ties Rakhi on her brother’s wrist. This symbolizes her love and prayers for the brother’s well-being and lifelong promise to protect her. In return, the brother ritually pledges to protect and take care of her under all circumstances. Thus, this festival ritually celebrates the love and duty between brothers and their sisters.

The festival is also an occasion to celebrate family ties between cousins or distant family members, sometimes between biologically separate men and women. The festival exceeds biological family, brings together men and women across religions and diverse cultural groups.

Days or weeks before Raksha Bandhan, women shop for Rakhis. Some women make their own Rakhi. A Rakhi may be a simple thread, colourful woven thread or may be made of good luck charms and decoration on top of it. The brothers buy gifts for their sisters. The gift from the brother can be a simple token of love or may be something more expensive.

On the morning of Raksha Bandhan, the brothers and sisters get together, often in nice dress in the presence of parents, grandparents and other family members. If the sister and brother are living at a distance, the sister mails the Rakhi ahead of the festival, along with a letter or a greeting card expressing good wishes to her brother. However, the ritual typically begins in front of an oil lighted lamp, which signifies fire deity. The sister and brother face each other and she ties the Rakhi on her brother’s wrist. This ritual sometimes involves an aarti, where a thali lighted with oil lamp is ritually rotated around the brother’s face. The sister then feeds him one or more bites of sweets. The brother may also feed sweets to his sister. The brother gives his sister gifts such as cards, clothes or money. They hug each other tightly.

The brother wears the Rakhi for the entire day at school or at work as a reminder of his sister’s everlasting love and his lifelong duty to protect her.